MN Unsigned Senior Showcase: Middle Infield Evaluations

October 2, 2015

By Rob Allison
Prep Baseball Report Minnesota

The Prep Baseball Report Minnesota's Unsigned Senior Showcase took place on August 23, 2015 at Vet's Field- Minnetonka High School. The showcase featured uncommitted prospects from the 2016 class who showcased their talents in front of our scouting staff, college coaches, and professional scouts.

Today we take a look at the middle infielders who participated in the event. The top middle infield prospect at this year's MN Unsigned Senior Showcase is Nicholas Novak from Stillwater High School. Novak is the type of player that impresses you with his ability to consistently make plays in the middle infield. His raw tools should continue to improve as he matures physically and gains strength. Solid hitting mechanics and shows the ability to stay at shortstop at the college level with strength in being able to defend.

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Top middle infield Prospects

1. Nicholas Novak, SS, Stillwater, 2016
5-foot-11, 165-pound left-handed hitting middle infielder. 6.94 runner. Above average glove with ability to stay at shortstop. Soft hands with short quick release. Throws show above avg. carry and accuracy to bag at 77 mph. Very good body control plays. One of better defenders in state. Gap to gap approach with avg. pop in bat. Good barrel control. 2-hole type hitter at college level. Swing path is clean with ability to shoot balls to oppo gap. Long stride at times; loses lower half in swing. Could make good jumps offensively with gains in strength. 77 mph exit velocity.

2. Sam Schneider, SS, Burnsville, 2016
6-foot, 185-pound right-handed hitting shortstop. 7.28 runner at this event. Middle/pull approach and generates considerable bat speed. Will need to shorten stride at college level. Flashes above avg. pop in bat. Aggressive swinger who wants to hit. 90 mph exit velocity. Quick first step and plays with energy. Shows solid feet and hands. Throws are accurate to bag with above avg. carry. 82 mph arm strength.

3. Ezequias Encarnacion, SS, St. Paul Prep, 2016
5-foot-11, 175-pound right-handed hitting shortstop. 7.16 runner. 89 mph exit velocity off tee. 83 mph arm strength. Clean barrel path to baseball. Stays on baseball at contact. Flashes pop in bat to middle/pull side of field. High leg kick disrupts timing occasionally. Shows above avg. actions in field with soft hands and active feet. Solid accuracy to bag with ability to throw from multiple arm angles. Recent commit to North Iowa Area CC.

4. Alex Holets, 2B, Rochester Century, 2016
5-foot-10, 160-pound switch-hitting middle infielder. 6.85 runner. More level swing plane LHH. Good gap to gap approach with balance in swing. Consistent solid contact. 85 mph exit velocity. Athletic actions in field. Glove is solid with above avg. range. Quick release with clean arm action. 79 mph arm strength.

5. Daniel Bollingberg, SS/RHP, Lyle Pacelli, 2016
5-foot-10, 175-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 7.16 runner. Line drive swing plane with flashes of pop in bat. Consistent solid contact. Uses whole field. 2-hole type hitter with barrel control. 79 mph exit velocity off tee. Good energy in middle infield. Aggressive fielder. Glove is occasionally late in fielding position. Clean exchanges with short release on throws. Above avg. carry and accuracy to bag. 77 mph arm strength.

6. Ben Vanhove, SS, Edina, 2016
5-foot-11, 160-pound right-handed hitting middle infielder. 7.19 runner. Gap to gap approach with consistent solid contact. Some stiffness in body and swing. Short to contact. 81 mph exit velocity. Shows good hands and solid body control. Range is avg. for shortstop. Feet are slightly heavy. 82 mph arm strength with clean arm action and carry to bag.

7. Kelby Johnson, 2B, Lakeville South, 2016
5-foot-8, 155-pound right-handed hitting second baseman. 7.25 runner. Loose hands with line drive swing plane. Shifts weight well through contact. Some length to contact. Uses whole field; has chance to be above avg. college hitter with strength gains. 71 mph exit velocity. Arm strength limits him to second base. Glove is soft and shows good body control. Solid actions. Accurate throws to bag. 74 mph arm strength.

8. Garrett Anderson, SS, West Lutheran, 2016
6-foot, 160-pound right-handed hitting shortstop. 7.03 runner. Good direction with stride. Some length to contact. Uses whole field. Middle/away approach. Avg. pop in bat. 77 mph exit velocity. Quick feet with solid glove in field. Has above avg. actions. Aggressive fielder. Short release on throws with avg. accuracy and carry. 72 mph arm strength. Interesting player to follow in 2016 class.

9. Eli Johnson, SS, Moorhead, 2016
5-foot-11, 165-pound right-handed hitting infielder. 7.15 runner with athletic build. Shows avg. pop in bat with solid contact from middle/pull approach. Flat swing plane. Uses whole field with solid bat control. 68 mph exit velocity. Athletic actions with quick release in field. Light on his feet and covers ground well. Low elbow slot effects carry on throws. Needs to improve arm strength but feet and hands are above average. 68 mph arm strength with accuracy.

10. Robby Metcalf, SS, Holy Angels, 2016
5-foot-11, 155-pound right-handed hitting middle infielder. 7.43 runner. Middle/pull approach with solid contact. Avg. pop in bat. Tight swing to contact. Stays compact with good connection. 75 mph exit velocity. Shows above average glove and plays through ball well. Clean exchanges and turns double play well. Light on his feet; covers ground well. Solid accuracy to bag with carry at 76 mph.

BEST OF THE REST (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Nathan Bauck, RHP/SS, William Kelley, 2016
6-foot, 165-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 7.09 runner. Hands drift down in load. Flat swing plane. Pull approach. Avg. contact. 77 mph exit velocity off tee. Inconsistent fielding position. Needs to be more active with feet. Limited momentum on throws with avg. carry and accuracy. 70 mph arm strength.

Dominick Blake, 2B, Cretin-Derham Hall, 2016
5-foot-10, 205-pound right-handed hitting infielder. 7.16 runner. Shows strength in swing. Uses whole field with consistent solid contact with level swing plane. 65 mph exit velocity off tee. Shows solid feet and actions in field. Accurate arm. Profiles better as a third baseman. Needs to improve arm strength. 70 mph arm strength.

Hunter Brommerich, SS, Lewiston-Altura, 2016
6-foot, 140-pound right-handed hitting infielder. 7.01 runner. Wide base. Leans over plate at contact restricting lower half explosion. Barrel is short through zone. Middle/pull approach. 73 mph exit velocity. Fields deep and across body. Avg. actions on defense. Needs to improve arm strength to play left-side of infield. 70 mph arm strength.

Niccolo Ciccarelli, RHP/2B, Highland Park, 2016
5-foot-10, 150-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 7.22 runner. Closed stance. Restricts lower half. Works middle of field with solid contact. Needs to improve strength. 74 mph exit velocity. Shows avg. glove in field. Long release on throws. Needs to be more aggressive to ball. 73 mph arm strength.

Travis Conoryea, 2B/C, Simley, 2016
5-foot-7, 170-pound left-handed hitting infielder/catcher. 7.57 runner at this event. Is shorter to contact. Better job of staying connected in load. Gap to gap approach with solid line drive contact to pull side of field. Plays hard with energy. Shows solid feet and hands in field. Accurate throws to base at 70 mph. Second base tools and actions. Good blocker and receiver. Works hard behind plate. Needs to continue to improve arm strength. 66 mph throws to second base with2.19-2.28 pop times.

Alan Davids, RHP/2B, Blue Earth Area, 2016
6-foot-1, 170-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 7.37 runner. Open stance. Longer stride. Leans over plate at contact. Weight stays on backside through contact. Gap to gap approach with solid contact. 73 mph exit velocity off tee. Fields deep in stance. Avg. actions with ok glove. Throws have avg. carry with solid accuracy to bag. 70 mph arm strength.

Jared Deuitsch, 2B, Highland Park, 2016
5-foot-11, 160-pound left-handed hitting infielder. 7.25 runner. High hand set and is direct to contact. Shows above avg. pop in bat with middle/pull approach and consistent solid contact. 75 mph exit velocity. Fields deep in stance with minimal direction and momentum on throws. Avg. actions in field. 70 mph arm strength.

Edward Fulton, SS, Minneapolis Washburn, 2016
5-foot-8, 135-pound right-handed hitting shortstop. 7.5 runner. Square stance. Longer stride to contact. Quiet head with line drive swing plane. Some length to contact with aggressive pull approach. 74 mph exit velocity off tee. Quick feet and solid range. Shows avg./ok across the board. 74 mph arm strength across diamond.

Erick Klein, SS, St. Agnes, 2016
5-foot-10, 155-pound right-handed hitting middle infielder. 7.69 runner. Active load. Starts open and lands open at contact. Pull approach with solid contact. 73 mph exit velocity. 74 mph arm strength. Shows above avg. feet and hands. Avg. body control. Good range. Quick release from short arm action. Solid carry and above avg. accuracy to bag. Needs to improve arm strength to stay at shortstop.

Austin Maneval, RHP/SS, New York Mills, 2016
6-foot, 175-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 7.57 runner. Pull approach with solid contact. Hitch in load. Uphill swing plane with negative weight at contact. 70 mph exit velocity. Raw mechanics on defense. Fields deep with avg. glove and feet. 73 mph arm strength.

Cameron Pettis, 2B, St. Francis, 2016
5-foot-4, 125-pound left-handed hitting infielder. 7.59 runner. Physically inmature. Wide base with negative weight shift at contact. Low hand slot; hits underneath the baseball. 71 mph exit velocity. Fields on one knee. Raw mechanics. Makes routine plays. Hitchy arm action with limited carry and accuracy. 70 mph arm strength.

Danny Phyle, SS, Rosemount, 2016
5-foot-10, 145-pound right-handed hitting middle infielder. 7.17 runner. Open stance. Rolls in and strides across body. Opens early to contact. Uses middle of field with avg. power in bat. 79 mph exit velocity. Shows ok feet and hands in field. Low arm slot effects arm strength and accuracy across diamond. 71 mph arm strength.

James Skroch, SS/RHP, North Branch, 2016
5-foot-11, 150-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. Middle/pull approach with avg. bat speed. Solid contact. Clean load and swing plane. 76 mph exit velocity. Shows solid feet and hands. Long release at times with short arm action. Throws show playable carry and accuracy to bag. Flashes above avg. exchanges and quick hands in middle infield. 75 mph arm strength.

MN Unsigned Senior Showcase: Middle Infield Evaluations

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